Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-01

The operator, accustomed to all kinds Of
sxtravagant outlay for expedition, replied
that he would lay this proposition, with the
dispatch, before the San Francisco Office. He
then took it and read it-and re-read it. He
preserved the usual professional apathy
had doubtless sent many more snigmatical
and mysterious messages-but nevertheless,
when he finished, he raised his eyes inquir-
ingly to his customer. That gentleman, who
enjoyed reputation for equal spontaneity of
temper and revolver, met his gaze little Inn
patiently The operator had recourse to a
trick Under the pretence of misunderstand-
ing the message, he obliged the sender to re-
peat it aloud for the sake of accuracy, and
even suggested a few verbal alterations,
ostensibly to insure correctness, but really to
extract further information. Nevertheless,
the man doggedly persisted in a literal trans
cript of his message. The operator went to
his instrument hesitatingly.
u suppose" he added half questioningly,
@there amt no chance of q mistake. This
address is sRightbody, that rich old Bostonian
that everybody knows. There amt but
oner
"Thata the address," responded tho first
speaker coolly.
"Didn't know the old chap had investments
out here, !" suggested the operator, lingering
at his instrument.
"No more did l." was the insufficient reply.
For some few moments nothing was heard
but the click of the instrument, as the opera
tor worked the key, with the usual appear
ance of imparting confidence to a somewhat .
reluctant hearer who preferred to talk him.
SELF The two men stood by, watching his
motions with the usual awe of the unprofes-
sional. When he had finished they laid BE-
fore him two gold pieces. As tho operator
took them up he could not help saying:
1.-THE old man went of kinder sudden,
didn't hel Had no time to writer
"Not sudden for that kind O. man." was the
exasperating reply.
But the speaker was not to be Disconnected.
"If there is an answer" he began.
"rhere amt any," replied the first speaker,
quietly.
"WhyF
"Because the man ez sent the message Is
dead"
"But it's signed by you two"
"On'y ez witnesses-ehp appealed the first
speaker to his comrade.
"Ony ez witnesses, !" responded the other.
The operator shrugged his shoulders. The
business concluded, the first speaker slightly
relaxed He nodded to the operator, and
turned to the bar room with pleasing social
impulse. When their glasses were set down
empty the first speaker, with cheerful con-
demnation of the hard times and the weather,
apparently dismissed all previous proceedings
from his mind, and lounged out with his COM
panion. At the corner of the street they
stopped.
"Well, that jobs done," said the first
speaker, by way of relieving the slight social
embarrassment of parting.
"Thet's so,n responded his companion, and
shook his hand.
They parted. A gust Of wind swept
through the pines, and struck faint, Aolian
cry from the wires above their heads; and
the rain and the darkness again slowly settled
upon Cottonwood.
sStanislaus Joe" responded Mr.. Rydsn
aIs that ala"
sNo. Sometimes he's called Joe StanA
laua"
Miss Alice (satirically)-I suppose its ths
custom here to send young ladies out with
gentlemen who hide their names under an
aliasi
Mr.. Ryder greatly perplexed-W dear
me, Miss Alice, you alters 'peared to me -
+. gal as was able to take kesr -
Miss Alice (nterrupting with wounded
IA l. -na-.s-